INDIANAPOLIS --Quenton Nelson spoke with a measured voice, almost in a monotone, as though he was reading IKEA furniture assembly instructions.

"As a blocker, my mindset is being dominant," he said Thursday at the NFL Scouting Combine. "I want to dominate my opponents -- and take their will away to play the game by each play, and finishing them after the whistle. I would consider myself a nasty player."

It was almost hilarious how matter-of-factly Nelson spoke about his most vicious football-playing instincts, the reasons he believes he should be a top five pick in this year's NFL Draft, despite playing a position, offensive guard, that usually gets little attention in the top five.

Nelson certainly has the strength to do everything he said. On Thursday, he bench pressed 225 pounds 35 times at the Combine -- tied for second-most among offensive linemen this year.

Nelson, who played at Notre Dame and grew up in Holmdel, could help the Jets fix their struggling offensive line. The Jets are set at right guard, for now, with Brian Winters. But they could release left guard James Carpenter to make room for Nelson. The move would free up $4.7 million in salary cap space. Carpenter is entering the final year of his contract.

There are no guarantees Nelson will fall to the Jets at No. 6. And if they don't sign quarterback Kirk Cousins in free agency, they're surely going to take a quarterback there (or higher). But getting Cousins would let the Jets address another position in the draft.

Nelson starred at Red Bank Catholic before becoming a highly regarded NFL prospect at Notre Dame. Coming out of high school, he was rated the 29th-best player nationally in his recruiting class, and third among offensive tackles, according to Rivals. He played left guard in college.

"I definitely consider myself a Jersey guy," he said.

Landing with the Jets at No. 6 would make for quite a homecoming. But Nelson, at least, feels confident he should be a top five pick.

"I think I should be talked about in that regard, the top five conversation," Nelson said. "Because you have [defensive] guys that are dominating the NFL right now -- in Aaron Donald, Geno Atkins, Fletcher Cox -- that have just been working on interior [offensive line] guys. You need guys to stop them. And I think I'm one of those guys.

"You talk to quarterbacks, and they say if a D-end gets around the edge, [the quarterbacks] find a way to step up in the pocket and make a throw. A lot of quarterbacks, if given the opportunity, can do that. That's what I give -- a pocket [in the middle of the line] to step up in. I think I also help my offense establish the run through my nastiness."

While offering this insightful commentary, he never wavered in his conviction -- or tone.